When the Statue of Liberty was remodeled in the 1980’s, it was discovered that the entire inside support system had to be replaced.
The outside copper skin of the statue was okay. It only had to be cleaned. Rust and corrosion had ruined the inner iron supports. If repairs had not been made, the statue in 20 years would have fallen over. The iron supports were replaced with stainless steel. Now it can withstand 125 mph winds.
A nation without inner supports of moral integrity is doomed to lose her liberty.
My Commentary:
This story about the Statue of Liberty is more than an engineering lesson — it is a moral warning.
From the outside, Lady Liberty looked just fine. Her copper skin still shone, her torch still lifted high, her promise still visible to the world. But beneath the surface, unseen corrosion was eating away at the iron supports that held her upright. Time and weather had done their quiet damage. Had no one looked inside, the statue would eventually have collapsed — not because of an external attack, but because of internal decay.
The restoration tells us something essential about endurance. What lasts is not determined by appearances, slogans, or symbols, but by what holds them up. Cleaning the outside was easy. Replacing the inner supports required honesty, humility, and hard work. Only when the weakened iron was replaced with stainless steel could the statue stand firm against powerful winds.
Nations are much the same. Flags can still wave, speeches can still stir, and monuments can still stand, even as inner supports quietly corrode. Moral integrity — truthfulness, responsibility, respect for human dignity, and accountability — functions like those inner beams. When they weaken, liberty becomes fragile, no matter how impressive the exterior looks.
Liberty cannot survive on image alone. It depends on character. It depends on citizens and leaders willing to examine what is hidden, repair what is broken, and strengthen what supports the common good.
A nation that ignores its inner supports may look strong for a time. But sooner or later, the winds come. And only what has been reinforced from within will remain standing.
To whom do YOU look up to and turn to today for moral integrity in politics, religion and business? Anyone?
What have YOU said and done to build moral integrity during this past year 2025 in politics, religion and your business? Just pointing out the faults and the sins of THOSE PEOPLE is not enough.
NEVER GROW TIRED OF HEARING AND LIVING THE RADICAL, BEAUTIFUL AND COUNTER-CULTURAL GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!
